Electric switch



March 5, 1929. A, H',- NER'Q x 1,704,625

ELECTRIC smT'cH' Filed March' so'. l1925 l 41s, I (I i 7/ Z6 ,I6 y 58 t'f8 4, a lm/Enron 6 'f 2 @Rv/n H. fvg/ 10 Ano/mns Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,704,625 PATENT OFFICE.

ARVID H. NERO, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROWELEC- TRIC COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION FCONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed March 30, 1925. Serial N'o. 19,525.

My invention relates to electric switches, and particularly to a rotaryswitch. The object of my invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive construction of both .the

switch body and the switch mechanism,

which lends itself to manufacture in diminutive size adapted forinstallation in wall canopies, lamp standard bases and the like.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig.v 1 is a side elevation of a canopyswitch in which my invention is embodied in one forni, but drawn to agreatly exaggerated scale;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sect1on on the same l5 scale;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the wire leads and switch contacts removedand the section taken below the rotary contact member on the spindle;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of details ot the switchmechanism: and

Fig. 8 is a partial elevation ot` the operating handle drawn to a stilllarger scale.

lVhile the present switch may be made in any appropriate size, it isprimarily de` signed as a .so-called canopy switch, and 1s commonlymounted in aV canopy shell, diagrammatically indicated at 15. Inasmuchas very little space is afforded between the canopy shell and thesurface of the wall against which the canopy lies, the switch body andmechanism must be of extremely shallow construction. In the commercialproduct the over-all length of the switch body is approximately an inch,and the depth of the insulating base approximately one quarter inch. In.order to adequately illustrate the construction, the scale of thedrawings is approximately three to one.

The insulating base 16 as shown comprises a molded, substantiallyrectangular one-piece body, having in the upper surface a centraldepression 17 constituting the switch chamber. From diagonally oppositecorners, long angular passages 18 and 19 lead to end wire terminalchambers 20 and 21, while channels 22 and 23 leading thereto accommodatethe pig tails 24 and 25.

A ,pair of switch contacts, in the form of flat spring brushes 26 and27, enter the switch chamber through the channels 18 and 19, and are oflike construction. Each contact brush is formed as an integral extensionof a side flange of a cupped terminal member 23 (Fig. 7) shaped to theoutline of the terminal chamber' 20 or 21. T he side flange 29 of thecup, facing the channel22 or 23, is notched at 30 to admit the bared end31 of the pig tail 24 or 25 to the terminal cup, to which it iselectrically and mechanically connected by welding or by solder 32. Theconnection between the pig tail and the terminal cup may be effected atany convenient location about the shop to form an assembly unit, whichis thereafter assembled on the base 16 by merely laying the unit inposition, that is, with the cup in chamber 2O or 21, the shank 33 of thecontact passing -through channel 18 or 19 and serving, with the cup, tomaintain the contact brush 26 or 27 in proper position within the switchchamber 17.

The rotary switch member comprises an insulating block 34 with a seriesof peripheral ratchet teeth l35. Overlying alternate teeth are the wings36 and '37 of the switch bar 38, which is integral therewith and extendsdiametrally across the lower face of the ratchet block 34. Lugs 39extending from the opposite margins of the wings 36 and 37 overlie theopposite face of the block 34 and secure the switch bar thereon.

YThe rotation of the switch block i4 is accomplished by a driving dise40 having ratchet teeth 41 struck therefrom to engage 'the oppositeedges of the switch bar 38, be-

neath which it lies. The washer 40 is provided with a non-circularcentral hole 42 through which passes the non-circular lower end 43 ofthe rotary spindle 44. The latter passes freely through a central hole45 in the block 34 and switch bar 38, and is received in a central well46 in the base 16. A shallow recess 47 surrounding the. well 46 may beprovided to facilitate the location of the disc 40 and its subjaeentbearing washer 48 during the assembly of the switch parts.v

Surrounding the spindle 44 and bearing against the upper face of theblock 34 is a compression spring 49 which serves to yieldingly press theswitch bar 38 against the driving ratchet disc 40 to maintain theseparts in cooperating relation. Against the opposite end of the springbears a washer 50 upon which rests a flanged ferrule 51, which in turnis held in position by the bushing 52 secured to the cover plate 53. Oneend of the spindle 44 is embedded in insulating bushing 54 contained inthe fer- .handle from the switch spindle.

rule 51 and is thus electrically isolated. A

thumb piece attached b screw 56 to the errule, affords means .orrotating the spindle.

Between the metal cover plate 53 and the insulating base '16 areinterposed sheets of insulation which are centrally apertured toaccommodate the spindle 44 and spring 49, but overlie the receptaclechambers 2O and 21 and serve to completely house-in the terminal andcontacts. Rivets 58, molded into the insulating base, pass throughregistering holes in the sheets'? and cover 53 and are offset above thelatter to rigidly unite thev piece is improvethas well as the fingergripthereon, if the threads are milled. The knurled effect is clearlyillustrated in Fig. 8.

The over-all diameter of the bushing 52.

is slightly greater than that of the thumb piece 55, so that' clampingnuts (not shown) by means of which the switch is secured to the canopy15, or the like, may be readily passed over the thumb piece 55' andengaged upon the bushing in a manner well understood in the art.

The construction as a whole is extremely simple, economical and readilyassembled, and affords a double-break in the circuit which is ample totake care ot' the current commonly impressed upon the line in systemsofthe type which this switch is in tended. to control. It possesses thedecided advantage of a ratchet drive which, so far as I am aware, is newin switches of this diminutive style. In canopy switches now in themarket, rotation of the thumb piece results in the unscrewing ot' theoperating In the present switch the reverse rotation of the i spindlemerely causes the ratchet teeth 41 of the driving disc 40 to ride idlyover the switch bar 38, the switch block 3() being held against reverserotation by the contact brushes 2b and 2T which bear against itsperipheral ratchet teeth Modifications in v detail of construction willoccur to those dealing with the problem which do not depart from what Iclaim as my invention.

I claim 1. An electric switch comprising an insulating base receed toafford a switch chamber, and on opposite sides thereof contact chambersconnected to the switch chamber by long angular passages at diagonallyopposite corners of the switch chamber, together with entrance channelsto the outer ends of the contact chambers, cupped terminals located insaid contact chambers and shaped thereto, and spring contact brushesextending from said terminals through said angular passages into saidswitch chamber.

2. As an element of an electric switch, a cupped terminal having anintegral side extended to 'form a spring contact brush.

3. As an element of an electric switch, a

vswitch spindle substantially normal thereto,

a driving ratchet rotating with the spindle and supported from the base,a switch bar vengaged by the ratchet for a one-way drive,

a spring bearing on the switch bar member to hold the same in engagementwith the ratchet, and a spring abutment rigid with the spindle, servingto maintain the spring stressed.

6. In an electric switch, a base, fixed con'- tacts thereon, a rotaryswitch member comprising an insulating block and switch bar rotatingtherewith, means for driving said block, said means includingcooperating ratchet elements, one of which is yieldable to permit saidelements to ride each other without actuation of the switch bar onrotation of one of the ratchet members in predetermined direction,together s.vitch cover secured to the base and serving to maintain theratchet members in cooperating relation.

A7. In au elect-ric switch, a switch mechanism comprising'a one-wayratchet drive, a driving ferrule rigid with one of the cooperatingratchet membcrs, a thumb piece having a friction tit with said ferrule,and a screw passing through the thumb piece and taking-into the ferruleto clamp said thumb piece and ferrule in frictional engagement.

8. In an electric switch, an insulating base, a cover overlying thesame, a bushing in the cover, a ferrule rotatable in the bushing, aratchet-operated switch mechanism, one of the ratchet members rotatingwith the ferrule, said ferrule being engaged by the cover to hold theparts assembled.

with a D. In an electric switch.v comprising a dielectric base providedwith a central depression and a plurality ot recesses communicating`with said depression, a plurality ot removable resilient. contactmembers regis` teringr at one ot' their ends with said recesses andextcntling` with their other ends into said depression, a tootheddielectric rotary member disposed Within lsaid depression and adapted tobe engaged by said cow tact members, conductive contact faces providedupon some ot' the teeth of said rotary member, a dielectric coverelement disposed above said base7 a closingi member holding` .sa-idcover member and the base together, and an actuating member for saidrotary member passing through and guided by said closing member.

l0. In an. electric switch, comprising a dielectric base having acentral depression and a plurality of recesses 'communicating with saiddepression, a plurality of exchangeable .spring cont-act. elenients setedgewise into said base and held at one of their ends within saidrecesses and extending into said depression with their other ends, adielectric member rotatably mount ed in said depression and providedwith a plurality of teeth, )adapted to be engaged by said contactelements, a spider of con` ductive material associated with said rotavtable member and forming contact faces at some of said teeth, a spindleconnected with said rotary member for operating it, a dielectric cover,disposed over the recessed tace of said base, a closing member holdingsaid cover and base together and an attaching element extending fromsaid closing member and forming a bearing for said spindle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication. f

Anvil) H; NERO.

